Family and friends are grieving for 20-year-old Mahdi E. Hayes, a Wyoming Lee High School graduate and Army reservist who was killed Thursday, Dec. 20.

Mr. Hayes was found shot to death near the intersection of Henry
Avenue SE and Worden Street.

Relatives described him as a family bedrock, admired by his younger siblings. He enjoyed dancing, running and playing basketball.

A former coach, Brett Geertsma of Potter’s House High School, said Hayes was “a great kid” who had a big heart for others.

Godfrey Lee Public Schools posted information about the funeral arrangements on its Facebook page: “It is with profound sadness that we learn of the sudden passing of Mahdi Hayes Jr., recent LHS alumnus and member of the U.S. Army reserve.”

Hayes graduated from Lee High School in 2010. He enlisted in the Reserves that year and went into active duty in 2012.

The funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1905 Madison Ave. SE, with family hour at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions are requested to be made to Lake Michigan Credit Union for Mahdi E. Hayes.